Border declaration passes come into force as Sydney Northern Beaches outbreak grow

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has announced that from 1am Sunday 20 December, anyone entering Queensland from New South Wales will need to have a border pass declaration.

The online system will be live by 8pm tonight.

The new passes are the latest addition to the Palaszczuk Government’s nation-leading COVID response.

From 1am this morning (Saturday 19 December) anyone travelling from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, including returning Queenslanders, must go into mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine.

The Health Minister said anyone entering Queensland from Greater Sydney or the Central Coast should get tested on entry to the state and self-quarantine until they receive their result.

“We’re adding additional measures to keep Queenslanders safe and we’re encouraging anyone in Queensland who has COVID symptoms, whether they’ve been travelling or not, to get tested,” she said.

“I’d also urge anyone in Queensland to reconsider travel plans to New South Wales.

“New South Wales is doing a great job and we hope this cluster is contained to the Northern Beaches area, but if we start to see spread into Sydney and surrounds, we will not hesitate to implement extra hotspots,” she said.

“We hope not to have to do that, but my message to Queenslanders is, now is not the time to be in Sydney.

“I thank Queenslanders and travellers to our great state for coming forward for testing and following the health advice.”

Over the past week, there has been traces of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) detected in wastewater on the Gold Coast, North Cairns, Townsville and Cleveland.

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said any wastewater detections highlight the importance of getting tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19. 

“With the current situation in New South Wales and these positive wastewater results, I really need anyone who has any symptoms to come forward for testing,” she said.

“We can’t be complacent here - we might be doing well in Queensland, but that can all change really quickly, as we’ve seen in other states.

“Please, keep getting tested, and keep following the health advice around maintaining distance, putting your contact details down at venues, and washing your hands.”

Anyone with any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, should get tested immediately. Stay home and isolate until you get the results and your symptoms resolve.

In addition, please follow the advice that applies in all instances:

• Stay 1.5 metres away from other people—think two big steps.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitiser after physical contact with other people or commonly touched surfaces.
• Sneeze or cough into your arm or a tissue. Then put the tissue in the bin and wash or sanitise your hands.
• Comply with current public health directions.

To find your nearest testing facility, visit
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/testing-and-fever-clinics

To help limit any potential risk to Queenslanders, some restrictions have also been introduced for visitors to aged care facilities, disability accommodation services and hospitals.

A public health alert is currently active for the following  locations in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast as well as a Virgin Australia flight between Sydney and Brisbane:

Media contact: Martin Philip 0407 675 008